Sam Allardyce explains why he did not hire Peter Reid as assistant manager

Allardyce was on the lookout for a new assistant manager when he was named Sunderland boss, and he has told the Echo why he decided against bringing Peter Reid back to the Stadium of Light.

Allardyce said: “Reidy is a very good friend and I’ve never been a believer in appointing friends in coaching. Would I have like to have done? Yes, I would. But I’ve always had that policy. As much as I know Reidy would have loved to come back, I have to stick to my own beliefs.”

Reid first moved to Sunderland in 1995, keeping the club in the First Division despite the fact they were battling relegation for much of the season. The following year he got them promoted, and they often jumped between the First Division and the Premier League, although they did have the spell that they fought for European football.

Reid left the Black Cats in 2002, and almost eight years in charge, and he is a fan favourite on Wearside for the work he did with the club.

He is currently out of work, and was one of the men linked with a move to Sunderland as Allardyce’s assistant. The Echo article claims that he wanted to link up with the Black Cats again, but Allardyce opted against bringing him back to the club due to a personal rule.

Allardyce does not want to hire his friends in any role on his management staff, and his relationship with Reid meant that he could not move for him, despite Reid’s wish to head back to the Stadium of Light.

In his place, Allardyce hired Paul Bracewell, also formerly of Sunderland, to patrol the touchline as his number two.

Billy Hawkins

Billy is a freelance writer who contributes to various sites concerning football. Known to possess an obsession with statistics, Eastern European club sides, and Victorian football, he focuses upon the untapped potential of the Football League in the belief it is more enjoyable than the Premier League.